Biological processes are one of many inspirations of elastohydromechanics [1]}, [2]}. Slender biological objects emerge in multiple contexts, motivating detailed investigation.
Starting from the sub-cellular level, examples include DNA and protein folding dynamics [3]}, lipids usually forming cell walls assembling into long filaments [4]}, or microtubules helping healing by contracting wounds [5]}. Another large area of interest is motility – cells moving inside a fluid environment or cells inducing motion of a fluid. An iconic example of such motion are sperm cells. On closer investigation it turns out that flexibility plays an important role in their motion, and the interplay between elasticity and viscous forces causes changes of the beating pattern in response to the changing environment [6]}, [7]}, [8]}. Biological 'optimisation' for viscosity gradients can also be found in mucus transport inside the lungs where the correct length, stiffness and active deformation of cilia provides the necessary movement of multiple layers of fluid with varying viscosity, essential for healthy respiration [9]}. On larger length scales, bacterial complexes were observed joining into elongated structures exhibiting complex dynamics because of elastohydrodynamic effects [10]}, [11]}.
Most of these examples are set in a microscale context, and thus the observed dynamics are dominated by the viscous interactions with the surrounding fluid [12]}.
